Vucevic: Serbia remains committed to preserving peace and stability

The Minister of Defense of Serbia, Milos Vucevic, pointed out today that Serbia remains committed to political dialogue, above all to the preservation of peace and stability, that is our national and people's interest, regarding the statement of the representative of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Hisen Berisha, that, as he says, Kosovo is ready for war if its integrity and sovereignty are violated, reports RTV.

"Unlike them, we don't make bombastic statements and we don't play war games, but we try to reach a historic agreement that would be important for Serbs and Albanians," Vucevic told for Tanjug.

Vucevic stated that Serbia believes in the coexistence of Serbs and Albanians in these areas, and not in conflicts and wars, because according to him, this does not lead to a solution, but to the deterioration of relations.

The Minister of Defense added that according to Resolution 1244 of the United Nations Security Council, as well as in accordance with international public law, it is clearly defined where the borders of the Republic of Serbia are.

"Serbia's borders are on Sharplanina and Prokletije, there is no need to play geography, geography is clearly outlined and clearly defined in terms of territorial sovereignty and the surface area of a state," Vucevic said.

According to Vucevic, Serbia will continue to be focused on finding an agreement with the Albanians.

"What worries me is the complete absence of hearing in Pristina, not only for reaching an agreement, but above all for the understanding that for Serbia it is a red line for anyone to try to expel the Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija," said Vucevic.

Interlocutor of Tanjug said that Serbia was able to protect the security of its people on the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, as well as that Pristina should return to the negotiating table and form the Community of Serbian Municipalities, which is defined by the Brussels Agreement.

"Let them come back to the negotiating table, it's much smarter, for a start, to form the CSM in accordance with the principles defined both in the Brussels Agreement and in the Agreement from 2015 that followed, that is, that came out of the Brussels Agreement," Vucevic said. 

When asked whether statements like the one made by the representative of the Democratic Party of Kosovo Hisen Berisha change Serbia's position and policy, Vucevic replied that Serbia's policy remains the same and that it will not change.

"Our policy remains the same, we cannot change our policy because one of them makes irresponsible statements, that is a question for them. We have to remain calm and rational, not to be carried away by that emotional charge, not being ashamed of our emotions, but you must not rush in bombastic statements now," Vucevic told for Tanjug.

Vucevic told Albanian politicians who spread inflammatory rhetoric "that they should remember that man is the servant of every spoken word, and the master of the unspoken."

"Albanians need to pay attention to what they say and understand that it is also in the Albanian interest to have peace and coexistence with the Serbs, just as it is in the Serbian national interest to preserve peace and stability and to try to reach a political agreement with the Albanians", concluded Vucevic.